Operating Openly Despite Government's Business Suspension Recommendation
On the 22nd, in front of a church in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police are conducting on-site supervision of a church that insisted on holding weekend services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] On the morning of the 23rd, at a yoga studio in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, an instructor and three female members gathered. Although the practitioners maintained a 2-meter distance from each other, after about an hour of practicing movements while wearing masks, they were soon drenched in sweat. The instructor used hand sanitizer every time she corrected the members' postures. Yoga instructor Hwang (38) said, "After a group infection occurred at a Zumba dance academy in Cheonan, there are concerns about yoga academy classes, but freelance instructors have no choice but to continue classes because if the academy closes, they do not receive any salary."
Despite the government issuing strong 'social distancing' guidelines the day before, religious facilities, indoor sports facilities, and entertainment venues, which were recommended to suspend operations, continued to operate. On the 22nd, about ten men were actively enjoying exercise at an indoor futsal court in Incheon. Due to the nature of the exercise, wearing masks was impossible. The men collided intensely with each other in a confined space. A futsal court official said, "If we post the schedule, reservations fill up within 2 to 3 hours."
At a table tennis club in Mapo-gu, Seoul, three members focused on playing table tennis without wearing masks. Lee (53), the representative, lamented, "I understand the social distancing policy, but it is so hard to make a living that I earnestly hope it ends within two weeks."
Some multi-use facilities were unaware of the government's business suspension recommendation because it was announced over the weekend. A live cafe in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stayed open past midnight until 3 a.m. on the 23rd. They even questioned, "Where did this two-week quarantine guideline come from?" A fitness center in Seongdong-gu also operated normally. The trainer focused on personal training without wearing a mask.
Some churches with repeated cluster infections did not give up Sunday worship. A small church in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, held a service the day before with hymns audible outside, and the 'National Struggle Headquarters for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in,' led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of the Korea Christian Federation, also pushed ahead with a Sunday joint worship at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.
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